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General Climbing Discussion

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Falcon Watch

Access T CliffCare

5-Nov-2010
1:31:32 PM

The Staughton Vale thread just reminded me about the falcons at Araps:
As it outlines below, give them a decent climber free range

There are currently nesting falcons on:
ARAPILES
Eurydice
The Bishop - Mitre Rock
Harlequin Cracks
Cassandra (nesting kestrel)

STAUGHTON VALE
Whole area closure -

excerpt from Vic Hurleys download on the Peregrine(avail on the VCC website)
There are two levels of disturbance for any nesting raptor which are relevant to climbers. First, the agitation distance: the point at which the nesting raptor sees a potential predator. Second, the flushing distance: the point at which the bird on guard or the incubating bird leave their perch to chase off the intruder. A person within the agitation distance will raise the heart and breathing rate and focus all of the bird’s attention on the disturbance until it is removed. This disturbance may limit the amount of time adult birds spend hunting and, if prolonged, may limit the food supply to the fast-growing chicks in the nest. This subtle disturbance can be just as lethal as if the eggs had been chilled below living temperatures.
These distances depend on the individual bird. For climbers making an average amount of noise, the agitation distance might be 50 – 100 metres. Peregrines are more sensitive to disturbance from above the nest, so people walking along the base of the cliff are less of a problem than climbers on the cliff.

On a cold day, it can take only 15 minutes off the nest for eggs to die. If the falcons have been sitting for more than 3 or 4 days, the are unlikely to lay again for that year.

Wendy

5-Nov-2010
2:26:03 PM

If they are nesting on all of those, there's a good chance they are on the ledge at the base of Scorpian and Quo Vadis as well.

gfdonc

5-Nov-2010
4:54:11 PM

On 5/11/2010 Wendy wrote:
>If they are nesting on all of those, there's a good chance they are on
>the ledge at the base of Scorpian and Quo Vadis as well.

I would have thought that would be too close to Eurydice. My understanding is that raptors are territorial.

I was up there Tuesday anyway; didn't notice anything.

Wendy

5-Nov-2010
5:53:04 PM

On 5/11/2010 WM wrote:
>and Uncle Charlie's Left Nostril / Pearls Before Swine

those ones won't be very happy then as there are people working punks and somalia at the moment.

there's a deep horizontal crack near the base of quo vadis that they tend to like - i thought they returned to the same nesting spot.

Access T CliffCare

18-Nov-2011
12:07:21 PM

Forgot I started this thread last year so just updating as well as what is on Falconwatch CliffCare site

Currently nesting (dejavu this post) November 2011
ARAPILES
Eurydice -Peregrine
Serpent - Mitre Rock - Peregrine
Harlequin Cracks - Peregrine
Cassandra - Kestrel

Also noticed on the board at the Pines this morning another warning about some other birds nesting near Orestes - will have to go back later to check details - Forgotten already - no wonder I forgot this thread. Crap - old age memory!

As per usual, please stay clear, a good 50 metres minimum. The climbs will always be there. Good chance few of them will be fledging soon. The chicks near Cassandra rap anchor were quite developed.

I will be organizing a list for the Araps noticeboard that is for the bird nesting and people can fill it in as they sight them. Saves having lots of little scribbly notes that sometimes get lost under all the notices.

cheers,

Tracey

anthonycuskelly

18-Nov-2011
12:27:16 PM

Well, there's my excuse not to try & lead Eurydice right there... :D

mikllaw

18-Nov-2011
1:30:07 PM

People seem to forget what they see at the toilet block...
Perhaps a laminated sign at the base of the affected areas, although a hassle to put them in 6 different locations.

Access T CliffCare

18-Nov-2011
1:33:48 PM

Hi Michael,

Something like that is in the works - have been thinking the same thing for quite a while. Might be something a little smaller but that details can be noted on and removed when required. And whilst noticeable, something that doesn't stick out too much like the dog's proverbials

Cheers,

Tracey

kieranl

19-Nov-2011
8:54:56 PM

On 18/11/2011 mikllaw wrote:
>People seem to forget what they see at the toilet block...
It does make life more pleasant if you can do that. I think that's one of the reasons that sewer pipes usually aren't transparent.

lacto

20-Nov-2011
3:53:24 PM

Presumably the falcons are watched and tagged , what is or has been the outcomes for this at arapiles and do the young birds ultimately nest elsewhere around arapiles . A post of this information surely would give positive sides to letting them successfully breed .

One Day Hero

21-Nov-2011
12:59:27 AM

On 20/11/2011 lacto wrote:
>Presumably the falcons are watched and tagged , what is or has been the
>outcomes for this at arapiles and do the young birds ultimately nest elsewhere
>around arapiles . A post of this information surely would give positive
>sides to letting them successfully breed.

If you need tags and surveys to learn that allowing threatened birds to breed is a good idea, you must be at least a little 'special'.

What'll happen if it turns out that none of the offspring have successfully colonised other parts of the mount?

"Righto, turns out that all these climbing closures a total waste of time, the little feathery fuchers aren't making a go of it. Everyone's free to clamber over their nests, it won't make a jot of difference anyway"

Retarded idea!


Doug

21-Nov-2011
1:42:37 AM

On 18/11/2011 mikllaw wrote:
>People seem to forget what they see at the toilet block...
>Perhaps a laminated sign at the base of the affected areas, although a
>hassle to put them in 6 different locations.

If FoA are willing to put in the time I think this is a good idea. Not everyone sees the noticeboard at the toilet block ...

lacto

21-Nov-2011
10:37:50 AM

groups have been monitoring peregrines for ages , I knew someone years ago that used to house nurse and return to the wild injured falcons and at one stage he had 4 birds that were all successfully returned to the wild , that group certainly had records and tagged young and monitored their range, life span and success at breeding , surely this information is still collated and all I am asking is that some of this information be put up here . I think it would be unusual for many offspring to return to nest at Arapiles as there is a limited number of terittories available there . Undoubtable there has been a large increase in population since climbing bans were started in the late 70's

kieranl

21-Nov-2011
11:22:44 AM

May be a response to good season after many dry years. Lots of mice and rabbits early this year.

JDB

21-Nov-2011
12:41:19 PM

How can I soar like an Eagle? When I'm surrounded by Falcons!

Access T CliffCare

21-Nov-2011
12:42:21 PM

On 21/11/2011 lacto wrote:
>groups have been monitoring peregrines for ages , I knew someone years
>ago that used to house nurse and return to the wild injured falcons and
>at one stage he had 4 birds that were all successfully returned to the
>wild , that group certainly had records and tagged young and monitored
>their range, life span and success at breeding , surely this information
>is still collated and all I am asking is that some of this information
>be put up here . I think it would be unusual for many offspring to return
>to nest at Arapiles as there is a limited number of terittories available
>there . Undoubtable there has been a large increase in population since
>climbing bans were started in the late 70's

Victor Hurley is the guy who runs these projects at Araps and elsewhere and would have this kind of information - Victorian Peregrine Project. I just don't have the time at present to hunt this down.

>and On 21/11/2011 kieranl wrote
>May be a response to good season after many dry years. Lots of mice and rabbits early this year.
Yes, I would imagine so. Rather than only 1 chick in the nest they might end up with 2 -3 which gives a much better chance of 1 surviving what appears to be their rather risk laden early existence

gfdonc

21-Nov-2011
1:05:10 PM

On 21/11/2011 JDB wrote:
>How can I soar like an Eagle? When I'm surrounded by Falcons!

I think you were contemplating to Fly Lichen Eagle, which is quite a different means of 'soaring'.

Access T CliffCare

22-Aug-2012
2:19:24 PM

Hi All,

It's coming up to Falcon breeding time which usually happens between end of August until November. For those who are new to climbing, you can read up more on the care climbers need to take when peregrines are nesting here http://cliffcare.org.au/about/falconwatch/ They often nest in the same areas and seem to have done so for the last few years anyway but there is always the chance they will discover new areas. As soon as you see evidence of the birds nesting could you please drop me a line at cliffcare@vicclimb.org.au and let me know. I can then update the cliffcare site and get the information out there. There will also be some signs that we are trialling this year at Arapiles when a nest site has been found. This will at least alert those that have intentions to climb in the vicinity and are not aware of the nests.

cheers,
Tracey

Access T CliffCare

7-Sep-2012
12:47:46 PM

I have been sent reports of what appeared to be a kestrel repeatedly circling and landing on top of Castle Crag. As the climber noted, it appeared to be paying more attention than normal but it wasn't agressive.
So this is not a confirmed nesting spot, just a little heads up to keep an eye on it. Any further info on this will be a help.
Cheers,
Tracey


IronCheff

7-Sep-2012
1:44:16 PM

I was on top of Castle Crag the Sunday just gone and there were no angry birds.

There are 23 messages in this topic.